Dr. Nguyen Thien Hung

A Psychiatrist is a licensed medical doctor who has acquired specialised training in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioural conditions. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications or use psychotherapy or counselling as part of the treatment.

Psychiatrists treat a wide range of mental health conditions, such as:

• Depression and bipolar disorder
• Anxiety, panic, and phobic disorders
• Learning and developmental disorders
• Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Sleep disorders
• Substance and addictive disorders
• Dementia and other age-related cognitive decline

You should see a Psychiatrist if you have:

• Feelings of sadness, anxiety, or irritability that last a long time
• Changes in sleep or appetite
• Difficulty concentrating or performing your work or studies
• Hallucinations, delusions, or disorganised thinking
• Unexplained physical conditions associated with stress
• Changes in behaviour, significant mood changes or thoughts of harming yourself

A Psychiatrist is a licensed medical doctor (MD) and can prescribe medications and manage medical treatments for mental conditions. A Psychologist has a doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) and engages in therapy, counselling, and psychological testing, but does not prescribe medication.

Psychiatrists may offer:

• Medication management (like antidepressants, mood stabilisers, antipsychotics, etc.)
• Psychotherapy (talk therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy)
• Lifestyle counselling and stress management
• Advanced therapies (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation [TMS] or Electroconvulsive Therapy [ECT])

A diagnosis is reached by conducting an extensive interview, administering a psychological evaluation, reviewing the medical history, and sometimes using lab tests or brain imaging to help rule out any other medical issues.

Of course. A Psychiatrist can help determine if issues relating to sleep or stress are associated with someone's anxiety, depression, or a medical problem, and can treat those effectively.